Agitator.



H. R. CONKLINQ AGITATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, m5.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

HARRY CONKLIN, F J'OPLIN, MISSOURI.

AGITATOR.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915..

Application filed April 7, 1915. Serial No. 19,821.

' to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My. invention relates to agitating devices for stirring purposes, more especially for stirring large volumes of solution and ground ore, such for example-as is customary in the cyanid process for the extraction of gold and silver. I

Referring to the drawings in which llke parts are similarly designated. Figure 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus embodying my invention, partsthereof being shown in elevation; and Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the tangential connection for the circulating pipe.

Theapparatus shown comprises a cylindrical tank or vat 1, having a conical bottom 2, preferably a steep conical bottom connect-,

ed at its smallest end to an exterior circulat ing pipe 3 whose upper enddischarges tan gentially into the upper portion of the tank 1. The tangential dischargemay be effected inany manner, but I prefer to connect the upperend of the circulating pipe 3 to a casting l, as shown, having a discharge opening 5.

In the circulating pipe I provide a liquid impeller or ejector section 6 which is simply a contracted portion provided with a propelling nozzle or jet 7 having three pressure media valved connections, 9, 10 and 11, for

air, ,liquid and steam, respectively. I also provide a drain valve 12 and a-connection 13 in the circulating pipe near the drain valveand bottom of the tank for supplying pressure media, either air, liquid'or steam, to

loosen the contents of the tank should the ,whole depth of the tank.

inlet opening and preferably near the side of the tank 1. A single valve 17 is placed in'thz pipe 14 between the inlet 15 and out- The operation is as follows: The cyanid solution andore pulp mixture flows through the pipe 14, valve 17 being closed, enters the tank at 15 at the'center and fills the tank. lVhen about full circulation is star-ted by means of the ejector 67 and the contents given a whirling movement throughout the This causes the pulp to remain in suspension while being subjected to the action of the cyanid solution, the supply flow to the tank being continuous, and the discharge also being con-' .tinuous through the discharge opening 16' and pipe 14:to the next tank in series.

comes clogged near the bottom, where clogging will occur by reason of a stoppage, of the operation from any cause, this may be loosened by means of pressure medium through the supply at 13.

1 am aware that liquid has been agitated in a tank by means of an outside circulating pipe such as '3, but such agitation has not been effective in keeping the material in suspension, and stoppages Were occasioned by accumulation of the pulp at the bottom of the tank. I have discovered that by combining this circulation with a whirling of the entire body of the mixture in the tank deposition in the tank has been avoided. It is also necessary that the circulating pipe be large relatively to the diameter of the tank, and I have found that such pipe should be not less than one-twelfth the diameter of thetank. With such dimensions the rapid withdrawal of the mixture through the bottom of the pipe will-alone produce rotation, which is strongly reinforced by the tangential action at the top of the tank due to the discharge at 5. Incase the solution requires heating, it may be'impelled by a steam jet through pipe 11 and jet device 7, and if thinning be required,

Water or solution under pressure may be.

used as the impelling medium from pipe 10. I claim v r 1. The combination with an agitating tank having a central outlet at its bottom,

a circulating pipee'xtending from said outlet exterior of the tank and discharging tangentially into the top of said tank, said outlet and tangential discharge being sufficiently large to. cause the rotation of the entire contents of the tank, an injector in said pipe having a plurality of impelling fluid supplies, an inclined supply pi pe passing across said tank having a liquid discharge orifice over the center of said tank media in said supply pipes severally or combined to said ejector as impelling media for the material to be circulated in said tank and circulating pipe.

3. The combination with an agitating tank having a conical bottom, of an inclined supply pipe extending across the tank near its top having a supply opening over the center of the tank, a discharge opening near the edge of the tank below the liquid level and a valve between said openings, a circu- I lating pipe connecting the apex of the conical'bottom with the top of the tank and a tangential inlet casting on the outside of the tank connected to said pipe, an impeller nozzle in said pipe, means to supply independently or combined one or more of the impelling fluids to said nozzle, a drain valve in said pipe and means to supply pressure fluid to said pipeibetween said valve and tank bottom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name.

' HARRY R. CONKLIN. 

